Useful Commands and Tips for the VMware Admin

When you run into that host that just won't go into maintenance mode for whatever reason:

SSH to the host and type:

vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

When that task just won't cancel:

SSH to the host and type:

/etc/init.d/hostd restart

/etc/init.d/vpxa restart

(p.s. don't try and cd to this or it won't work for some ppl, just type as is after logging in with root)

When Dell OME doesn't have an obvious way to change the DNS name:

Go to settings - connectivity - network - common settings and change DNS IDRAC NAME

When you don't know your idrac IP

SSH to the host and type:

esxcli hardware ipmi bmc get

When you need the serial number because vSphere still doesn't tell you in the web client

SSH to the host and type:

[root@esxi01:~] esxcfg-info | grep -w "Serial Number"

When vCenter says it has a "certificate error" but gives no further information

SSH to the host and type (to find which cert is expired):

for i in $(/usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/vecs-cli store list); do echo STORE $i; /usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/vecs-cli entry list --store $i --text | egrep "Alias|Not After"; done